Introduction
Miley Cyrus was born and raised in Franklin, Tennessee on November 23, 1992. She is an America singer, a songwriter and an actress. Her birth name is Destiny Hope, derived from her parents Letitia and Billy Cyrus. She was later given a nickname “Smiley” later shortened to “Miley” since she always smiled as an infant. Miley was a Christian; she attended Southern Baptist church, in which she was then baptized in the year 2005. She also attended Heritage Elementary school. When she was eight years old, her family moved to Toronto, Canada in the year 2001. Miley realized her career when her father had taken her to see the production of Mamma Mia at Royal Alexandra Theater. She told her father she wanted to be an actress. Since then, she began to take singing and acting classes at an acting studio in Toronto and took small roles in acting. Her breakthrough in the industry came when she appeared in a children television series, which ranked among the highest-rated series. She later obtained deals with television, consumer products, film, and music. The theme song “the best of both worlds” for Hannah Montana was released in March 2006. It was Miley’s first song on the American Billboard it appeared at number 92. Ever since her song have never left the Billboard and she continued to release hit after hit. Now she has millions of fans all over the world. Miley Cyrus is one of the most powerful celebrities in the United States according to Forbes (2014), ahead of Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift. Her earnings were way up $36 million.
Miley Cyrus controversial identity with social media
Miley Cyrus has most social media sites under her name, namely Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Myspace, and her website. She has over 27 million followers on Twitter, over 38 million followers on Instagram, and over 50 million followers on Facebook. Many posts on her wall receive a significant amount of likes whether controversial or not. Most of her photos and videos are goofy and controversial, and she uses vulgar language in most of her posts. Her way of life and what is portrayed in the social media are distinctive. Miley was brought up in a Christian background, Miley seems to have kept faith in church matters. Despite her posts on social media Miley appears to portray another good character controversial to the posts. During international women's day on March 8, 2016, she called out the feud involving Kim Kardashian and Bette Milder about a nude photo posted by Kardashian on the day. She further wrote on her Instagram post about their tackiness. She further argued that successful women including herself should come together, create and try to bring jobs to other women to support themselves and their families ("Miley Cyrus Slams Kim Kardashian's Twitter Feud with Bette Midler and Chloe Moretz As 'tacky' - Mirror Online"). She has shown to take part in the charity deeds throughout her career. She has participated in charity singles such as just stand up! "Everybody Hurts", and "we are the world 25 for Haiti." From her posts on her website and social sites, Miley has visited her sick fans all over the years. She has also donated to several organizations. Miley gave one dollar for every ticket sold to the city of hope for every performance in the “best of both worlds tour” and “wonder world tour”. During her 16th birthday in Disneyland, she delivered $1 million donations to Youth Service America. In her social sites, Miley portrays herself a person who does not care by her mode of dressing and vulgar language in her posts. In contrary, she shows concern for people around her especially her fans. She supports charities s. Such as Elton john aids foundation and United Service Organizations. She has donated items including the dress she wore to the 52nd annual Grammy Awards and several free tickets to her movie.
Purpose, bias and audience
The charity behavior and concern for others purposed to give back to the society. Her actions all over the United States demonstrate the will to help the unprivileged in the society. She might have also done this to build her image in the competitive industry in the United States where celebrities emerge often. Just like other celebrity, Miley has come out to speak her desires that have faced criticism; other fans have become biased in their posts on her fan page. Most fans have shown criticism on her mode of dressing during her performances. She faced most criticism when she released the “wrecking ball” video that thrilled other fans while others disliked it. The audiences are dividing into two. There are those who are her die-hard fans and those who are haters who do not recognize what she is bringing to the entertainment industry. She receives many likes and positive posts in her social media platforms. The critics also post negative and abusive comments. The media have created the biases in the social media over other artists. The media has sometimes taken sides and do not give clear statistics of what is happening in the industry.
How Miley Cyrus uses social to build her celebrity status
Miley has used her mode dressing in her photos and videos to attract the audience. She has used photos that are revealing to gain familiarity with the social media, which have paid off primarily by many fans that she has on social media. The celebrity also uses vulgar language in her posts. The mode of communication seems perceived by most of her fans in the social media. She uses funny clips in her posts that catch the attention of her fans. There is a recent edit video showing her struggling Donald Trump in her goofy Instagram post. The video received many likes and comments. In some occurrences, her posts trend on Twitter worldwide. In her, twitter account status description, she uses extreme vulgar that seem is welcomed by the younger generation. She uses this language to engage with the youth and connect with them. Miley has also shared photos of her fans in her pages both social and her website. She has used this platform to show other celebrities and her fans how she engages with people. Hence, it has widened her popularity. She uses hilarious images to attract more fans to her page.
Perception of people to Miley Cyrus posts online
Mostly these pictures are targeting the youth who form her biggest fan base. The appearance of these posts has welcomed a lot of criticism in from fans and other celebrities, but it seems she is interested with those who are like-minded. As she still displays the same posts all through. However, some of her nasty posts have been directed to others which have received negative comments, and further led indulge in Twitter wars. She recently posted a photo-shopped picture of Kanye West in a woman’s body in a controversial pose. This generated many negative comments. One of her fans posted that she should try deceit from posting such nasty photos ("Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) • Instagram photos and videos," n.d.). In early March 2016, she also published a Jodie Sweetin photo in a party a few years ago. The picture generated many controversies on Instagram. Jodie responded that she does not deal with negative comments, and she had a lot of better things to do while other fans rebuked her post saying she should not have posted such photo while she was aware of what Jodie went through in her early adult life.
Use of the social platform and reaction from the public
Miley Cyrus has used social media to publicize her and to win more fans. Her controversial posts are sought to catch the concern of her fans and to engage them in her fan page. The singer cum actor aims to win the attention of her youth fans by use of vulgar language that seems to be widely welcomed by the youth. She uses social media to introduce her upcoming music, movies, shows, tours, and charity events. However, many of her posts are revealing and controversial; she uses this to stay relevant. Most celebrities post controversial tweets, nudes, and hate messages to others in the bid to stay relevant. They engage in twitter wars for publicity and superiority. Her controversial postings have not been received well by other fans. She has received negative criticisms, many people rebuking her nasty character on social media. Many fans also unfollowed her posts, but the number appears negligible since she gains many other followers. Her love life also appeared on her social media sites. She posted about getting back with her separated partner Liam Hemsworth after splitting in 2013. Her post addresses the seriousness to stay and keep a relationship she uploaded a picture of a pad that she bought so as to have private time with Liam. This has been welcomed and applauded by most of her fans and the public. The expressed her move as bold and responsible. She brings her private life into the limelight that is applauded by most of her fans.
References
"Miley Cyrus Slams Kim Kardashian's Twitter Feud with Bette Midler and Chloe Moretz As 'tacky' - Mirror Online." Mirror. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) • Instagram photos and videos. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/mileycyrus/?hl=en
